Cyber Security Experts Set Research Priorities at NIST Workshop to Secure Cyber-Physical Systems

Cyber Security Experts Set Research Priorities at NIST Workshop to Secure
Cyber-Physical Systems
Cyber Security Research Alliance Initiates Next Step to Define Key Research
Topics with Government, Academia, and Industry to Address Cyber Security
Vulnerabilities
PR Newswire
GAITHERSBURG, Md., April 9, 2013
GAITHERSBURG, Md., April 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Leading industry, government,
and academic cyber security experts convened at the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) for a workshop to establish a research agenda
to address threats and vulnerabilities across multiple domains for a wide
array of cyber-physical systems that are increasingly targeted by cyber
attackers.
The industry-led Cyber Security Research Alliance (CSRA) and NIST hosted the
two-day event focused on identifying and addressing threats and
vulnerabilities for Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), which includes industrial
controls, data communications, and other IT systems that support critical
infrastructure operations such as utilities, communications networks and
security-sensitive government operations.
"Securing CPS is a top concern because of the potential for widespread
physical and economic collateral damage that could result from a targeted and
well-executed cyber attack," said Lee Holcomb, president of the CSRA and vice
president of strategic initiatives, Lockheed Martin Information Systems &
Global Solutions. "The research agenda developed collaboratively by
researchers at NIST, leading academic institutions, and CSRA member companies,
is designed to mitigate cyber threats to CPS and better secure our nation's
critical infrastructure."
Workshop participants explored CPS research opportunities for several of the
most complex areas in cyber security such as IT supply chain,
government-industry information sharing on vulnerabilities, approaches to
product assurance and trustworthy operational readiness. The group identified
a specific set of research priorities that will appear in public documents to
be published in the next several weeks. The documents will include key
research objectives to inform industry, government and academic research
activity in CPS.
"Cyberphysical systems – self-driving cars, smart buildings, advanced
manufacturing systems, intelligent medical devices, and much more – are
becoming central and essential to our everyday lives," said Chuck Romine,
Director of NIST's Information Technology Laboratory. "These complex,
IT-driven systems pose unique security challenges that will only be met
through the combined effort of the commercial, academic and government
sectors. This meeting brought together experts from all sectors to join
forces in pursuing our shared goals."
About the CSRA: The CSRA is a private, non-profit research consortium formed
in response to the growing need for increased public-private collaboration to
address complex problems in cyber security. The founding members of the CSRA
are Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Honeywell, Intel Corporation, Lockheed
Martin, and RSA/EMC. CSRA seeks to achieve coordinated industry participation
to address national cyber security research and development strategic
imperatives and bridge the gap between government-funded R&D and commercially
available products and solutions in cyber security.
To learn more about CSRA, please visit our website at
http://www.cybersecurityresearch.org/
SOURCE Cyber Security Research Alliance
Website: http://www.cybersecurityresearch.org
Contact: Mary Phillips, (240) 252-9425, mary.phillips@lmco.com